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FRED MICHELS
OH 1088
New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project
Montana Historical Society
Summary
TAPE I – SIDE A
0 to 5 minutes
Discusses childhood on farm in northeastern Montana. Graduated 1932 from Plentywood
High School. Went to school at Havre in pre- med program, one year. Couldn’t afford to
enroll for second year of school. Had been working for Buttrey’s summers, and was then
offered job at Buttrey’s being established at Fort Peck. Was brought to the job by F. A.
Buttrey himself. Store workers put up in contractors’ shacks. Then barracks moved to
Wheeler for temperatory [ temporary] housing for male workers. Permanent housing
built for workers. Worked for Buttrey’s until 1936 when mother died. When returned to
Fort Peck, applied at Corps of Engineers, qualified as storekeeper after civil service
exam.
6 to 10 minutes
Describes work as storekeeper near open tunnel. Then transferred to flood plain
warehouse. Buttrey’s had two stores in Fort Peck; describes location and goods for sale.
Concessions. Remembers Vornholt who had dry goods store, wasn’t supposed to sell
hardware, but did anyway. Delivery of furniture. May 1938, applied to transfer to Los
Angeles flood control program. Number of employees Buttrey’s had, 12 or 15. Wages
were $ 60 per month for Corps. Remembers buying car and payments of $ 15 month.
When quit Buttrey’s was making $ 110. Government pay was a little bit less. Not much
competition at Fort Peck, but in Havre men “ were walking the streets” looking for work.
Describes difference in store then and the grocery store today. In those days, they were
“ sales clerks” and they were expected to sell the shoppers more than what was on their
lists.

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Interviewed by Rick Duncan on 2 Aug. 1987 in Fort Peck, Mont., as part of the repository's New Deal in Montana/Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project.; Topics include his employment at a Buttrey's grocery store; recreation; and wages.; Resident of the Fort Peck area during the construction of Fort Peck Dam in the late 1930s.

FRED MICHELS
OH 1088
New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project
Montana Historical Society
Summary
TAPE I – SIDE A
0 to 5 minutes
Discusses childhood on farm in northeastern Montana. Graduated 1932 from Plentywood
High School. Went to school at Havre in pre- med program, one year. Couldn’t afford to
enroll for second year of school. Had been working for Buttrey’s summers, and was then
offered job at Buttrey’s being established at Fort Peck. Was brought to the job by F. A.
Buttrey himself. Store workers put up in contractors’ shacks. Then barracks moved to
Wheeler for temperatory [ temporary] housing for male workers. Permanent housing
built for workers. Worked for Buttrey’s until 1936 when mother died. When returned to
Fort Peck, applied at Corps of Engineers, qualified as storekeeper after civil service
exam.
6 to 10 minutes
Describes work as storekeeper near open tunnel. Then transferred to flood plain
warehouse. Buttrey’s had two stores in Fort Peck; describes location and goods for sale.
Concessions. Remembers Vornholt who had dry goods store, wasn’t supposed to sell
hardware, but did anyway. Delivery of furniture. May 1938, applied to transfer to Los
Angeles flood control program. Number of employees Buttrey’s had, 12 or 15. Wages
were $ 60 per month for Corps. Remembers buying car and payments of $ 15 month.
When quit Buttrey’s was making $ 110. Government pay was a little bit less. Not much
competition at Fort Peck, but in Havre men “ were walking the streets” looking for work.
Describes difference in store then and the grocery store today. In those days, they were
“ sales clerks” and they were expected to sell the shoppers more than what was on their
lists.